Thomas County cat., 1887-11-17
MRS. SMITHS WAY.
Why She Thought She Gould
Never be q Missionary.
a Wise Little WOman's Sorrow for Her
NeighbOrs Who Were Daily Killing
Themselves, and Who Would
Not Heed Her COunsels.

One evening when Mr.. Smith came
home from work he found his wife
sitting alone in their cozy parlor
that always presented the same neat
and tasteful appearance; some work
had fallen idly in her lap while her
chin rested on her hand and she had
become SO absorbed in thought that
she heard not the opening of the door
when he entered.
''And what has put my Brownie in
to such brown study that she has
neither eyes nor ears for things of time
and sense?" inquired Mr.. Smith, after
standing in the doorway for about two
minutes watching his wife.
go, Ned" exclaimed Mrs. Smith,
starting up from her reverie. 81 never
could be missionary, never"
''Well, l am glad to hear you say
so.'' said Mr.. Ned Smith, seating
himself beside his wife while broad
smile shone over his countenance:
Il would be sorry to have you
leave me here alone, ] assure you,
and l have no intention, myself. of 60
ing to some distant cline TO work
among the heathen."
Ned. you may laugh at me if you
will; vou know l didn't think of heath
en in foreign lands at all; but do feel
sorry for the people about us who are
daily Gillipp thnpSn1vnS ~
"Dear me"' calculated Mr.. Smith,
''who is committing suicide now?"
''Our neighbor Mrs. wilkins, and
many others beside" soberly respond
ed Mrs. Smith.
"Now you speak in riddles" said her
husband. Il do not fathom the depth
of your meaning"
at is only this. Ned; am saddened
at the thought of people working and
worrying over trifles.'
"Why, Brownie. do you not think
triiles make perfection? and perfec-
tion is no trife."
Ned, l wish you would be serious
for once and listen to what say"
Mr. Smith drew on long face and
said: 'Now l am all serious attention
with a mind wholly yours.
"a man should have a mind of his
own" was the saucy retort.
The mischievous expression came
again to Mr.. Smiths eyes as he replied
My mind is yours and you are mine
therefore my mind is my own. Now,
Brownie. l am going to be sober as q
judge and listen most obediently while
You relate the cause of your sudden at.
tack of profound meditation"
''Well. this afternoon. began Mrs.
Smith. 81 was out calling on oul
neighbors. and went, first. across the
street to Mrs. Wilkins, and found tha,
parsonage lying down completely ex.
hauStcd from overwork. She does all
her own work, and with their large
family that is no light task at the best.
She is by nature strong woman. en-.
ergetic and industrious. priding herself
on how much work she can do in q
day. That, You know, is different
from me. for l try to accomplish s
good deal by doing just as little as
can"
Il understand just what q sinsibly
lazy wife have" said Mr.. Smith, will
his face long drawn.
Brownie continued. Il had concei
enough to think myself able to instruc
her in the way of doing, and to con
vince her of the truth that whoever
might be better employed is idle Yes
terday she put large washing out OF
the line, and when went over to-da,
she had just finished ironing a grea
pile Of clothes, and was lying dowr
from sheer exhaustion"
'.And what was extraordinary II
that?" asked Mr. Smith. 81 have seer
my Brownies white hands movin.
swiftly over the ironing-board."
but my hands are not all hard ant
and roughened by drudgery. thinl
my hands and head are the more easil,
kept clean by wearing gloves and ca,
when doing sweeping and such kind
OF work"
'.And perhaps Mrs. Wilkins isn't S,
fortunate in having kind. considerat,
husband like Mrs. Brownie Smith"
'Of course not" was the emphat,,
answer, ..and neither has Mr.. Wilkin.
a wife SO awfully wise IS Ned Smitl
has Iesteem ourselves highly enough